What Stiffener to use ? - Learn How To Make Hats Online | Hat Academy Millinery Courses

Cynthia, Baxter Hart & Ab…

2012-09-13T11:33:23.179Z

Cynthia, Baxter Hart & Abraham do a waterproofing spray.

Whenever I'm using a chemical stiffener I always use it outside and wear a mask.

I have heard of a few alterna…

2012-09-12T23:21:45.138Z

I have heard of a few alternative non-toxic substances like glue being used on felts etc., but wonder if they would actually work well enough. I guess I should experiement. I have been pretty happy with what I have been using, however.

I guess I should worry. I've…

2012-09-12T22:57:09.262Z

I guess I should worry. I've been using the aerosol stiffener with all the warnings on the back. I think I get it from JudithM. I use it outside with a mask. It's laziness on my part -- just don't want to mix up and apply the gelatin. I'll probably make a change eventually. I met a hatter who makes high-end bespoken hats who uses cheap hairspray as a stiffener. His hats are amazing. I worry some about toxic materials, but probably not as much as I should.

I have been using the stiffen…

2012-09-12T21:23:24.771Z

I have been using the stiffener from LEKO that is non toxic. Do any of you worry about using the toxic stiffeners? I feel that some of my hobbies in the past have exposed me to more toxins than I should have been and have really steared clear of stiffeners that could cause any more exposure.

Question: Are there any stif…

2012-09-12T14:19:14.514Z

Question: Are there any stiffeners that will withstand rain, humidity, and water?

Also Lauren, it's always a go…

2012-09-02T16:01:54.876Z

Also Lauren, it's always a good idea to experiment on scrap sinamay (or felt)--just to get familiar with it, and perfect the proportions of water to gelatin. I just blocked a super thick handmade felt for a customer, and to get the gelatin to to it's job, I had to double up on the gelatin to water, and used LOTS of steam to get it to penetrate the thickness of the fibers. It did a fine job!! Sometimes it will leave a funny sheen, which I never like, but that can be gently brushed away with a wire brush.

Thanks for the replies I thin…

2012-09-02T09:03:42.946Z

Thanks for the replies I think I will give the gelatin a go as using the water based one and wanted to try something different.

I use milliner's gelatin, ava…

2012-09-02T05:58:51.807Z

I use milliner's gelatin, available at hatsupply.com. Very economical, and you can adjust the stiffness, by using more gelatin to water. I like to use about 2 tsp. per cup of water for sinamay.

Hi Lauren, For sinamay I use…

2012-08-26T17:13:07.126Z

Hi Lauren,

For sinamay I use a water based stiffener. You can get it from Parkin or Kopka. I'm sure someone can suggest a supplier near you.

For straw I use the chemical straw stiffener as I find it gives a lovely sheen and hold to the straw that you don't get with anything else.

I work mainly in felt and personally I haven't found anything that works as well as the proper chemical felt stiffener. I know other milliners who swear by other methods like Gelatin stiffener. My advise is try a few methods and see what works best for you and stick to that.